Europe stands by Spain over breakaway Catalonia

Spain’s allies in Europe and the United States rallied behind Madrid on Friday after Catalonia’s regional parliament declared independence in a escalating constitutional crisis. Catalan MPs passed the motion by 70 votes to 10 — in a ballot boycotted by the opposition — in a move that threatens the stability of Spain and the European Union. After the vote, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy said he had dissolved the Catalan parliament, formally removed separatist leader Carles Puigdemont from office and called regional elections on December 21 as part of measures to “restore normality”.